Scaffold



DI E. BEATTY ET Al.

Aug. 16, 1938.

" scAFFoLD Filed Feb. 1, 1957 s sheets-sheet v1 JNVENTORS mbo www

4 Aug. 16, 1938. D. E. BEATTY Er AL 2,126,720

SCAFFOLD Filed Feb. 1, 1957 s sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TORS Den/d badi] Ta AI Cj. Rambo.

Patented Aug. is, i938 SAFFOLD Application February l, 1937, Serial No. 123,394

t malins.

This invention` relates to scaffolds and more particularly to a tubular scaffold and to a means to adjust the scald'old for irregularities in foundation or working level.

In erecting scaolds made `of standard size end frames, such as the one shown and described in the patent to Reinhold A. Uecker, Patent No. 2,043,498, patented June 9, '1936, considerable difilculty has been experienced in making adiustments for variations in the foundation level, and in making adjustments inthe level oi the working platform.

End frames approximately five feet high have been found to be very satisfactory, since that size end frame is rigid, light enough in weight to permit ready handling, and large enough to insure rapid erection.

In the past, two methods have been used to` adjust tubular scailolds to definite heights. One method` employs telescoping tubing with a pin passing through both tubes. In this construction, illustrated in the United States patent to Mosher, Patent No. 1,552,333, the pin is apt to shear or to work loose, and in either event the scaffold would fall and endanger the workmen.

The other method, 'also illustratedI inV the MosherA patent, employs a screw and nut to adjustv the height of the legs.y This construction is unsafe due to the likelihood of children loosening the screws while playing on the scaffold after vorking hours and causing the scaffold to colapse. i

One object of the present invention is, therew fore, to provide a means to adjust the platform height of a scaiold which will be secure against collapsing. i

Another object is to provide an adjustable footlng for a scaffold which will be secure. against collapsing. i

A further object is to provide a. means to ad- `just the platform height which will be simple to erect, and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to produce a sectional scaffold comprising a plurality of end frames superimposed on each other with an adjustment to permit an uninterrupted platform to be built at any height.

A further object is to produce a sectional scaf- 50 fold composed of a, plurality of end frames superimposed on leach other and adapted to retain `a sloping platform on 'top of the scaffold.

Further objects will be apparent upon considering the following specification, which, .taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, are

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing the t;

foot adjustment.

Fig. 5 shows an alternate form of footing adjustment.

` Referring to Figs. l and 2 it will be seen that thescaffold is composed of a plurality of end frames it! each of which comprises two vertical tubular posts llliL spaced from each other and `joined by two horizontal braces `i2-li, and stiii'ened by diagonal braces l3lt.

The end frames lll may be superimposed on each other, and joined. by coupling pins lflybest shown. in Figs. 3, 4 or 5.

Cross braces l5 join the sections as shown iny Fig. l to support the end frames in vertical position. The cross braces are secured to the end yframes it by bolts it which are welded to the end frames and thus form an integral part thereof` All oi the above structure is part of and is fully described in the Uecker patent, supra.

It is obvious that, where the end frames are a. uniform size means must be provided to make adjustments to the bottom end frames in order to compensate for differences in elevation of the foundation. Two methods of accomplishing this adjustment are shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Fig. i, the scaffold is provided with a base plate to which is attached acoupling tube 2l of suitable diameter to fit snugly Within the'tubular post H. A spacer sleeve 22 made of the same'size tubing as the posts il lits over the `tube 2l and spaces the bottom oi the post ll from the base plate 20". f

In practice, it has been found impractical to have the sleeve over three feet long as the unsupported leg tends to wabble slightly and make the scaffold insecure. For lengths of three feet or over, a supplemental half frame may be provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and z, and 0the tubular extensions added to the lower end of the-half frame. Small Virregularities from one to four inches may 'be taken care of most readily by blocking up the footing with planks.

The half Y :trames 25 are connected by cross braces 2B similar tothe braces il used with the end frames i0.

A second method of adjusting the footing is shown in Fig. 5. As shown in that figure, a coupling pin Il joins the end of the post il to a spacer sleeve Ill of suitable length, and a regular stationary footing member 2l is fitted into the lower end of the sleeve.

'Ihe footing member 20 comprises a base plate on which is fixed a tubular shank 24. The shank may contain a spring retaining member (not shown) to prevent disengagement of the base plate from the scaffold if desired. This lbase plate is shown and described more fully in the copending application of Ingar G. Rambo and Fred H. Graser, Serial No. 90,712, filed July 15, 1936.

A half frame 25 mayv also be inserted between the spacer sleeve 30 and the frame Ill if necessary.

'I'he top of the scaiold may be adjusted in height as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. If the adjustment is to be three feet or more the half frame 25 is used, which is similar to the half frames used at the base of the scaffold. The half frame is made approximately one half the height of a regular end frame I and may have either one or more horizontal braces 33 to lend rigidity or to support planking such as 35 (Fig. 1).

A coupling pin l0 is made of tubular material of a size to fit snugly within the post i I oi the end frame i0 or the half frame 25. A collar 4I of the same size material as the post I i is brazed on the pin lli so as to divide it into two parts. The shorter part is approximately half the length of a standard coupling pin il while the longer part is made sumciently long to iit in the posts Il -with a spacer sleeve 4I of the desired length between the post il and the collar 4|.

A cross brace 4l is formed with a short tubular post 41 on each end. 'I'he cross brace 45 and posts 41 form a short trame which fits over the upper end ot the coupling pin ll and forms a support for the planking ll.

By varying the lengths ot the spacer sleeves 4I the top platform can be made to assume any desired slope or be built to any desired height.

Having thus described the invention it is obvious that it is susceptible to various changes and 'modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. It is n ot, therefore, desired to limit the invention to the precise form herein shown and described, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What `is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a scaiold havinghollow posts, means to vary the height of said scaffold. said means comprising, a coupling pin slidable into and out of one oi.' said posts, a stop member fixed on said pin, and a spacing sleeve slidable over said pin relationship.

2. In a scaiold, comprising a plurality of end vframes each `end frame including hollow posts,

means to vary the elevation of the scaffold, said y means comprising, an elongated coupling pin having a sliding fit within one of said posts, a

stop member on said pin, and a spacer sleeve havl ing a sliding fit over said coupling pin and engageable with both the end of the post and the stop member to hold the post and coupling member in spaced relationship.

3. In a scaffold having hollow posts, an adjustable footing member comprising, an elongated pin slidably engageable with one of said posts, a base plate fixed to said pin, and a spacer sleeve slidable over the pin and directly engageable with the end of the post and the base plate to maintain the post and base plate in spaced relationship.

4. Ina scaffold having hollow posts, means to vary the height of the scaiold said means comprising, a coupling pin having a sliding fit in said hollow post, a stop member intermediate the ends of said coupling pin, and a spacer sleeve having a sliding flt on said coupling pin and adapted to space the end of the hollow post from said stop member.A

`5. In a scaffold having a pair of hollow posts, means to vary the height of the scaffold comprising, a coupling pin in each of said posts, said coupling pins having a sliding fit within the posts, a stop member intermediate the ends of each coupling pin, a spacer. sleeve on each of said coupling pins having a sliding fit thereon and extending between the top of the posts and the stop members to space the same from each other, and a short frame comprising a horizontal brace and connecting members, said connecting members being engageable. with said coupling pin, whereby said brace may support scatl'old planlring.l

6. In a scaiold having a pair of hollow posts, means to vary'the height of the scaffold comprising, a coupling pin in each of said posts, said coupling pins having a sliding t within the posts, a stop member --intermediate the ends of each coupling pin, a spacer sleeve on each of said coupling pins having a sliding nt thereon and extending between the top o1 the posts and the stop members to space Athe same from each other, and a short frame, said short frame comprising, a horizontal brace adapted to support scaffold planking, and a hollow member attached to each end of said brace and engageable over the short 'end of the coupling pin to connect the brace with the remainder of the scaffold.

DAVID E. BEAT'I'Y. INGAR G. RAMBO. 

